Costa Howard Co-Sponsors New Equal Pay Legislation Targeting Salary History

SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, is co-sponsoring new legislation aimed at closing the gender pay gap in Illinois by preventing employers from asking job applicants about salary history.

“We’re all used to seeing the salary history question on job applications, but many people do not understand how this routine question works to perpetuate the gender pay gap,” Costa Howard said. “When young women are paid less in their first jobs, due to gender discrimination, job applications that ask about salary history virtually guarantee that this unfair wage disparity will follow those women throughout their careers. That’s wrong. When men and women do the same job, they should be paid the same wage.”

Costa Howard, who is an attorney and small business owner, is co-sponsoring House Bill 834, which amends Illinois’ Equal Pay Act by prohibiting employers from screening job applicants based on their salary history or requiring applicants to reveal their salary history as a condition of employment.

In January, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order forbidding state agencies from asking job applicants about salary history. The measure does not cover local governments or private employers.

 “This new legislation will provide a smart, commonsense solution to discriminatory hiring practices and will help to address the gender wage gap in Illinois,” Costa Howard said. “The women of our state deserve fair treatment in the workplace, and I am proud to join the fight for equal pay as one of my first efforts in Springfield.”

For more information, please contact Rep. Costa Howard’s constituent service office at RepTCH48@gmail.com.